Ski boot spreader

ABSTRACT

A tool for spreading apart a leg portion of a ski boot including a handle portion and a plate portion wherein the plate portion has at an end thereof means for engaging an inner piece of the leg portion and the handle portion at the end thereof has means for engaging an outer piece partially overlapping the inner piece of a ski boot leg portion. The means for engaging includes a first recess which opens inward of the plate portion and a second recess which opens outward of the handle portion. The handle portion and the plate portion are preferably separate components joined together in rotational relation to each other, preferably by a pivot fastening means.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a tool for spreading apart a legportion of a ski boot. More particularly, the invention relates to atool for spreading apart a ski boot leg portion divided into an innerpiece and an outer piece which partially overlaps the inner piece. Thetool spreads apart by cam action the inner piece and the outer piece atthe overlapping portion to provide an opening for introducing a skier'sfoot into the ski boot. The tool includes a handle rotatably connectedto a plate wherein the handle and plate are adapted to engage an edge ofthe inner piece and the outer piece of the ski boot leg portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A significant problem to the enjoyment of skiing is thedifficulty a skier encounters while putting on a ski boot. Thisdifficulty has been exacerbated by current boot designs which call foran increasingly stiffened boot in order to provide the skier greatercontrol of the ski. The increased stiffness of the boot makes itdifficult for the skier to negotiate the right angle bend at the anklejoint of the ski boot which is required to insert the skier's foot inthe boot. Thus, often two people, i.e. four hands, are required to slidethe skier's foot into the ski boot. One set of hands is used to pry openthe boot while pulling forward the tongue of the boot and the other setof hands is used to pull up on the ankle portion of the boot. Aside fromrequiring two people to put on a ski boot in this manner, the maneuveris extremely frustrating. Moreover, quite often, the maneuver isaccompanied by cuts to the hands received from the sharp edges of themolded plastic of the boot.

OBJECTS AND BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0003] An object of the invention is to provide a tool for spreadingapart the leg portion of a ski boot to provide an opening through whicha skier can insert his foot into the ski boot.

[0004] A further object of the invention is to provide a tool forspreading apart a ski boot leg portion that enables a skier to put on aski boot without the help of another.

[0005] A further object of the present invention is to provide a toolfor spreading apart a ski boot leg portion that locks into place betweenan inner piece of a ski boot leg portion and a partially overlying outerpiece of the boot leg portion upon engagement of the tool with the innerand outer pieces and subsequent partial rotation of the tool.

[0006] Another object of the invention is to provide a tool forspreading apart a ski boot leg portion where the ski boot leg portionhas a front portion divided into an inner piece and a partiallyoverlying outer piece, wherein the tool includes a handle and a platewherein a first recess in the plate engages an edge of the inner pieceand a second recess in the handle engages an edge of the outer piece.

[0007] A further object of the invention is to provide a tool forspreading apart a ski boot leg portion divided into an inner piece andan outer piece partially overlapping the inner piece, the tool includinga handle and a plate including a first recess and a second recesswherein the first recess and the second recess are constructed andarranged such that upon engagement with the respective inner and outerpieces and subsequent partial rotation of the tool, opposing forcesexerted by the inner and outer pieces lock the tool in place between theinner and outer pieces such that the inner and outer pieces are heldspread apart from each other.

[0008] The invention is directed to a tool generally including a handleportion and a plate portion wherein the plate portion includes a meansfor engaging an inner piece and the handle portion includes a means forengaging an outer piece that partially overlaps the inner piece of a skiboot leg portion. The means for engaging includes a pair of recessesthat are constructed and arranged such that upon engagement with therespective boot leg portion pieces and subsequent cam action or partialrotation of the tool, preferably the handle in rotation to the plate,opposing forces exerted by the inner and outer pieces lock the tool inplace between the pieces while spreading the pieces apart. A firstrecess in the plate portion can be substantially C-shaped and is presentin at least a front end of the plate portion and faces inward of theplate portion with respect to the tool. The first recess is provided asspace between the bottom surface of the plate portion and a lipextending inward from a downward extending portion of the plate portion.The first recess is adapted to receive the leading edge of the innerpiece. A second recess is present in the handle portion, preferably inthe form of a groove which extends around a front portion of the handleportion. The second recess is adapted to receive a leading edge of theouter piece. The handle portion and plate portion are preferably twoseparate components retained together by a pivotal fastening means, suchas a pivot screw, which in addition to retaining the handle portion andplate portion together allows the handle portion to rotate in relationto the plate portion when the inner piece is positioned in the firstrecess of the plate portion.

[0009] In use, the end of the plate portion including the first recessis slid between the inner piece and outer piece of the ski boot legportion such that the first recess receives the leading edge of theinner piece. The leading edge of the outer piece is received in thesecond recess in the front of the handle portion. The handle portion isthen rotated 180° (right or left depending on whether the left boot orright boot is being put on) in relation to the plate; portion which isheld stationary due to its engagement with the boot. The leading edge ofthe outer piece slides within the second recess as the handle portion isrotated. Upon rotation to the rear side of the front portion of thehandle portion, the outer piece is spread apart from the inner piecethereby enlarging the opening through which a foot is inserted into theboot. The spreading apart is due to the front portion of the handleportion being of a shorter length in the front between the screw meansand the second recess and longer in the back between the screw means andthe second recess. The force exerted by the opposing leading edges ofthe boot leg pieces lock the tool therebetween. This enables hands-freespreading apart of the ski boot leg portion. The user can then easilypull the boot tongue forward and insert a foot into the boot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional ski boot with whichthe tool of the invention can be used.

[0011]FIG. 2 is a partial top view of the ski boot leg portionillustrated in FIG. 1 in a closed and latched position.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a top view of the ski boot leg portion of FIG. 2 in anopen and unlatched position.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a side and partial cross-sectional view of a tool forspreading apart a ski boot leg portion in accordance with the inventionas the tool is inserted between an outer piece which partially overlapsan inner piece of the ski boot leg portion of FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 5 is a side and partial cross-sectional view of the tool ofFIG. 4 after rotation of the handle portion 180° showing the outer pieceof the boot leg portion spread apart from the inner piece of the bootleg portion.

[0015]FIG. 6 is a top view of the plate portion of the tool.

[0016]FIG. 7 is a side and partial cross-sectional view of the plateportion of FIG. 6.

[0017]FIG. 8 is a side and partial cross-sectional view of the handleportion of the tool.

[0018]FIG. 9 is a top view of the handle portion of FIG. 8.

[0019]FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the handle portion of FIG. 8.

[0020]FIG. 11 is a front view of the handle portion of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] A preferred embodiment of a tool for spreading apart a ski bootleg portion is shown in FIGS. 4 through 11. Prior to describing indetail the embodiments of the present invention, a conventional ski bootwith which the tool of the invention is useful will be described inrelation to FIGS. 1-3. FIGS. 1-3 show a ski boot having a ski boot legportion 10. Ski boot leg portion 10 includes means 12 for closing andlocking boot leg portion 10 which, in FIG. 2 is shown in the closedposition and in FIG. 3 in an open position. Means 12 is generally of aconventional locking latch or lever type and therefore is not describedherein in detail.

[0022] Boot leg portion 10 includes an inner piece 14 and an outer piece16 which partially overlaps inner piece 14. According to onecharacteristic of a ski boot including a boot leg portion of the typeshown in FIGS. 1-3, inner piece 14 and outer piece 16 can be spreadapart from each other so that they are no longer overlapping and atongue 18 inside of the boot leg portion can be pulled forward toprovide a larger opening in boot leg portion 10 which allows a skier'sfoot to be inserted through the opening into the boot leg portion andultimately fully into the ski boot. The invention provides a tool 20 forseparating inner piece 14 and outer piece 16 and creating an openingtherebetween providing additional space for insertion of a skier's footinto the ski boot.

[0023] Tool 20 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of theinvention is as shown in FIGS. 4 through 11 and includes a substantiallyrigid handle portion 22 made of any suitably rigid material such asplastic, wood, metal or a composite material. Handle portion 22 has atop side 24 facing a first direction, a bottom side 26 opposite theretofacing a second direction, and a front portion 28. It is contemplatedthat tool 20 can be any shape and cross-section that does not interferewith the purpose and operation of the tool 20. The preferredembodiments, however, have at least a front portion with a widthsufficient to stably maintain the tool in position between the innerpiece 14 and outer piece 16, i.e. to avoid slippage or a fallingsidewise of the tool when in use. The handle portion may or may not beof the same width as the front portion of the tool.

[0024] Tool 20 additionally includes a plate portion 30. Plate portion30 can be made as one piece with handle portion 22 with minormodification as noted below. However, handle portion 22 and plateportion 30 are preferably two separate components held together by apivoting fastening means, such as a pivot screw 32. Two components arepreferred in part due to the lesser cost in making the mold used tomanufacture the tool and the greater ease in release from the mold.

[0025] Plate portion 30 is substantially planar with a downwardprojecting front edge 34 having an inward projecting lip 36. Lip 36 inconjunction with bottom surface 38 of plate portion 30 provides a firstrecess 40 for receiving a leading edge 42 of inner piece 14. In thepreferred embodiment as shown in FIGS. 4-5 and 7, lip 36 extends onlyfrom front edge 34. If tool 20 is one piece, lip 36 will extend inwardof the entire periphery of plate portion 30.

[0026] Plate portion 30 in the preferred embodiment has an opening 44therethrough with a collar 46 extending upward from the top surface ofplate portion 30. Collar 46 is received in complementarily-shaped recess48, as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 8 and 10. A wall 50 is present therein toprovide an inner recess 52. A pivoting fastening means, such as shownfor example by pivot screw 32, extends through opening 44 in plateportion 30 into inner recess 52 of handle portion 20 where it isthreadingly received in a conventional manner in the case of a pivotscrew. Plate portion 30 is thereby held to the front portion 28 ofhandle portion 20.

[0027] Present in front portion 28 of the handle portion 20 is means forengaging outer piece 16 of boot leg portion 10. The means for engagingincludes a recess 54 which extends around the periphery of front portion28 as shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 8 and 11. This arrangement allows recess 54to engage leading edge 56 of outer piece 16 when tool 20 is initiallyinserted between pieces 14 and 16 and is retained therein during use oftool 20. Front edge 34 of plate portion 30 is preferably curved to easethe insertion of the front end of tool 20 between inner piece 14 andouter piece 16 in use.

[0028] In use, tool 20 is inserted front end 34 first between innerpiece 14 and outer piece 16. Tool 20 is oriented such that bottom side26 of handle 22 is adjacent inner piece 14 as shown in FIG. 4. Tool 20as illustrated in FIGS. 4-5 is inserted a sufficient distance betweenpieces 14 and 16 such that edge 42 enters recess 40 as shown in FIG. 4.Leading edge 56 of outer piece 16 is simultaneously received in recess54 of front portion 28 of handle portion 22. Upon pivoting or partialrotation to 180° of tool 20, edge 42 of inner piece 14 remainspositioned in recess 40 and edge 56 of outer piece 16 moves withinrecess 54 from the front side A of front portion 28 to the back side B.FIG. 4 shows the position of tool 20 in relation to pieces 14 and 16upon initial insertion and FIG. 5 shown the position of tool 20following camming 180°. Tool 20 becomes locked between opposing edges 42and 56, as shown in FIG. 5. The force exerted by inner piece 14 andouter piece 16 when spread apart, with edges 42 and 56 engaged withinrecesses 40 and 54, respectively, hold tool 20 in place while spreadingapart ski boot leg portion 10. Upon rotation of handle portion 22 andmovement of edge 56 in recess 54 from front side A to back side B, outerpiece 16 is spaced away from inner piece 14. As seen from viewing FIGS.4-5, the repositioning of front portion 28 results in edge 56 and recess54 being initially positioned atop plate portion 30 and inner piece 14(FIG. 4) to being positioned in front of and away from front edge 34 ofplate portion 30 (FIG. 5). In this way, an opening of sufficient size iscreated in boot leg portion 10 to allow a skier to insert his or herfoot into the ski boot. This is done “hands-free” once tool 20 has beenrotated 180°. To remove tool 20, the handle portion is return rotated toits original position and tool 20 slid out from between inner piece 14and outer piece 16. Thereafter, using closure member 12, the boot isclosed and locked and ready for skiing.

[0029] Pivot fastening means 32 is constructed and arranged so thathandle portion 22 may pivot left or right 180°. This allows the tool 20to be used in any direction simplifying use with a right foot boot orleft foot boot and use by a left- or right-handed person.

[0030] When the tool 20 is of a one piece design, the provision of lip36 around the periphery of plate portion 30 allows edge 42 to movewithin recess 40 as the handle is rotated around to spread apart outerpiece 16 from inner piece 14. Necessarily, the positioning of lip 36will be such as to create the difference in spacing upon rotation asdescribed above.

[0031] In the preferred embodiment, to maintain handle portion 22 inposition in relation to plate portion 30 during non-use and upon initialuse during insertion between pieces 14 and 16, handle portion 22includes a rounded protrusion 58 which sits within a depression 60 onplate portion 30. The protrusion easily overrides the depression uponslight pressure.

[0032] As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, variousmodifications can be made within the scope of the aforesaid description.Such modifications being within the ability of one skilled in the artform a part of the present invention and are embraced by the appendedclaims. For example, the handle can have one or a combination of variouscross-sections such as square, rectangular, circular, etc. Further, itis apparent to one skilled in the art that the handle can be of anyshape and does not have to be straight. Therefore it can be bent so longas the bend therein does not hinder rotation of the tool. In addition,the distance separating the recesses can be increased or decreased inorder to increase or decrease, respectively, the opening created betweenthe edges of the pieces of the ski boot leg portion when the tool islocked therebetween.

It is claimed:
 1. A tool for spreading apart a ski boot leg portionhaving an inner piece and an outer piece partially overlapping the innerpiece, the inner piece and the outer piece defining an opening forintroducing a skier's foot into a ski boot, the tool comprising a handleportion, a plate portion connected to said handle portion, said plateportion including a first recess constructed and arranged to engage anedge of said inner piece, and said handle portion including a secondrecess constructed and arranged to engage an edge of said outer piece.2. The tool according to claim 1 wherein said first recess opens inwardof the plate portion.
 3. The tool according to claim 1 or 2 wherein saidsecond recess opens outward from the periphery of a front portion ofsaid handle portion.
 4. The tool according to claim 1 or 2 wherein saidhandle portion is rotationally connected to said plate portion.
 5. Thetool according to claim 3 wherein said handle portion is rotationallyconnected to said plate portion.
 6. The tool according to claim 4wherein a pivot fastening means serves to rotationally connect saidhandle portion to said plate portion.
 7. The tool according to claim 5wherein a pivot fastening means serves to rotationally connect saidhandle portion to said plate portion.
 8. The tool according to claim 1or 2 wherein said first recess and said second recess are constructedand arranged such that upon engagement with said inner piece and saidouter piece and subsequent to at least partial rotation of the handleportion, opposing forces exerted by said inner piece and said outerpiece hold the tool in place between said inner piece and said outerpiece.
 9. The tool according to claim 3 wherein said first recess andsaid second recess are constructed and arranged such that uponengagement with said inner piece and said outer piece and subsequent toat least partial rotation of the handle portion, opposing forces exertedby said inner piece and said outer piece hold the tool in place betweensaid inner piece and said outer piece.
 10. The tool according to claim 3wherein said front portion is unitarily joined to said handle portionsuch that said second recess forms one end of the handle.
 11. The toolaccording to claim 3 wherein said front portion includes said secondrecess and is unitarily joined to the handle portion, and said handleportion is movably connected to said plate portion.
 12. A tool forspreading apart a ski boot leg portion having an inner piece and anouter piece partially overlapping the inner piece, the inner piece andthe outer piece defining an opening for introducing a skier's foot intoa ski boot, the tool comprising: a handle portion having a front portionwith a recess' extending along its periphery constructed and arranged toengage an edge of said outer piece, and a plate portion rotatablyconnected to said handle portion, said plate portion including a firstrecess in a front end of said plate portion constructed and arranged toengage an edge of said inner piece.
 13. The tool according to claim 12wherein said first recess opens inward of said plate portion.
 14. Thetool according to claim 12 or 13 wherein said first recess and saidsecond recess are constructed and arranged such that upon engagementwith said inner piece and said outer piece and at least partial rotationof the handle portion, opposing forces exerted by said inner piece andsaid outer piece hold the tool in place therebetween.
 15. The toolaccording to claim 12 wherein said plate portion is rotatably connectedto said handle portion by a pivot fastening means.
 16. A method ofspreading apart a ski boot leg portion including an inner piece and anouter piece partially overlapping the inner piece, comprising: providinga tool having means for engaging an edge of the inner piece and an edgeof the outer piece, inserting said tool between the inner piece and theouter piece a distance sufficient to engage the edge of the inner pieceand the edge of the outer piece, and at least partially rotating saidtool to further separate the inner piece and the outer piece.
 17. Themethod of claim 16 further comprising holding said tool between the edgeof the inner piece and the edge of the outer piece following said atleast partial rotation of said tool.
 18. The method of claim 16 whereinsaid means for engaging includes a first recess and a second recess.